Legislators depict recent economic growth as impressive

Hanoi (VNA) – Some lawmakers described economic growth in 2017 and the first months of 2018 as impressive and applauded the Government’s efforts to achieve that outcome while discussing socio-economic issues on May 25.

National Assembly (NA) deputies were scrutinising the additional evaluation of the implementation of the socio-economic development and state budget plans for 2017 and 2018, the outcomes of thrift practice and wastefulness prevention in 2017, and the final accounts of the State budget balance in 2016. 

This was part of the ongoing fifth session of the 14th-tenure parliament.

According to some legislators, the Government’s report that gave additional assessment of the socio-economic development in 2017 and the first months of 2018 showed a very bright socio-economic panorama with impressive statistics, which created great confidence among people.

NA deputy Hoang Quang Ham of Phu Tho province depicted the economic growth rate last year as spectacular while deputy Nguyen Huu Cau of Nghe An province said the figures in 2017 were impressive.

The country recorded a GDP growth rate of 6.81 percent and fulfilled 12 of the 13 socio-economic targets in 2017. In the first quarter of 2018, GDP posted the strongest expansion in 10 years, 7.38 percent.

Aside from stable industrial production, the indicators of finance, currency, development investment, services, tourism and export-import also enjoyed fair growth rates. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s positions in the world rankings of business environment, competitiveness and innovation have been strongly improved thanks to the Government’s efforts, which have solved an array of fundamental problems, they said.

Nguyen Huu Cau attributed those outcomes to efforts by the whole political system, especially the Party’s leadership and the Cabinet’s drastic and creative steering methods, as well as the support from businesses and people nationwide.

He expressed his belief that with this momentum, the socio-economic targets for 2018 will continue to be realised successfully as expected.

Deputies Nguyen Thanh Xuan of Can Tho city and Nguyen Huu Cau said efforts by the Government over the past time are honourable.

However, deputy Vu Thi Luu Mai of Hanoi noted that the Government’s report would be more comprehensive if it included the assessment of policy effectiveness to clarify how policies were carried out and difficulties in policy implementation. 

The report should take account of the resolutions on economic restructuring and medium-term public investment plan along with the five-year financial plan, give assessments of difficulties and advantages, and suggest solutions for the next three years, she added.

Xuan asked the Government to have an in-depth analysis of GDP growth quality and export revenue to help NA deputies and people gain an insight into growth, and also help itself set up targets for each sector, especially the ones decisive to the sustainable growth of the economy.-VNA